Newspaper Tidbit: Happy New Year 1919 into 1920

Manassas Journal
26 December 1919

PWHPF: January 2020 Events and Programs

January 2020

January Events and Programs Plus Winter Historic Perspective Newsletter

The grounds of the historic sites are open daily from dawn until dusk and the sites are open for tours during special events and by appointment. Call (703) 792-4754 to schedule your tour today.

Neabsco Regional Park 15875 Neabsco Rd., Woodbridge, VA 22192 (703) 499-9812 January 1 | 9am–12pm Ages 10+ Join us for a fun way to spend New Years Day on our First Day Hike of the new Neabsco Regional Park. The hike will begin in at the parking lot for Neabsco Regional Park on Blackburn Road. The four mile long hike will include the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk, Metz Wetlands and Leesylvania State Park. Guides will cover the wildlife, plant life and history along the walk. Wear appropriate clothing and shoes and bring water. For more information call (703) 499-9812. Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park Corner of Iron Brigade Unit Avenue and Tenth Alabama Way, Bristow, VA 20136 (703) 366-3049 January 1 | 1-2:30pm All Ages Bring in the New Year with a guided hike by local historians! You will start off at the parking lot for a brief overview . Then walk down the 1863 Trail, and then via the 1862 Trail before walking back to the parking lot. This 90-minute, 3-mile hike will start the year on the right foot! Please RSVP by Dec 31st to historicpreservation@pwcgov.org or call (703) 366-3049. Pets are welcome to join, but the trail is not accessible for strollers. Can’t make the guided hike? Create your own First Day Hike experience in the park.

Upcoming Event at Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow, VA 20136 (703) 365-7895 Crime and Punishment January 18 | 11am-12pm, 1-2pm | $5 As Prince William County’s seat for 70 years, Brentsville’s Courthouse and Jail was the focus of law and order in the community. Take a tour of the Brentsville’s public lot and learn about the laws, crime, and punishment of the 19th century while you hear about some of the high-profile cases that were tried on-site. Additional Information and Registration

Winter Historic Perspectives Newsletter

View Winter Newsletter

Historic Preservation Spotlight

The historic Barnes House located at the Montclair Community Library is an amazing feat of preservation.

The Historic Barnes House   Originally built in 1797, the building served as a tavern and home in the Independent Hill area. But, when Route 234 was widened in 2004, the building was threatened with demolition and so it was moved to the Prince William County landfill for preservation and remained there until November 2014. The building was loaded onto a truck bed and moved slowly 5 miles to its current location, stopping at power lines so they could be raised to allow the house to fit underneath. The restored building highlights the post-Civil War African-American history of Prince William County and the region. Today you can take a tour of the site by special appointment or at our next special event this February.

Visit Prince William County Historic Preservation Website

Deed: Cole to Ashby (1883)

Deed:  Lawrence Cole and Jane Cole to William J. Ashby
PWCo Deed Book 34, pg. 418

This deed made and entered into the 8th day of Decr 1883 between Lawrence Cole and Jane Cole his wife of the first part and William J. Ashby of the second part all of the County of Prince William and State of Virginia. Witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of seventy five dollars in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged the party of the first part have this day bargained and sold to the party of the second part a certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the County of Prince William containing sixty two acres more or less adjoining the lands of S. B. Herrell, John G. Taylor, Louis H. Greybill & others to have and to hold the above described tract or parcel of land unto the said William J. Ashby his heirs & c. forever. As witness our hands and seals this 8th day of December 1883.

Lawrence Cole {seal}
Jane Cole {seal}

State of Virginia
Prince William County to wit

We J. L. Cole and L. E. Jones Justices in and for the County of Prince William do certify that Lawrence Cole whose name is signed to the writing hereto annexed bearing date on the 8th day of Decr. 1883 acknowledged the same before us, and we further certify that Jane Cole the wife of Lawrence Cole appeared before us and being examined privily and apart from her husband declared she willingly executed the same and did not wish to retract it. Given under our hands and seals this 8th day of December 1883.

Jas. L. Cole  J.P. {seal}
L. E. Jones J. P. {seal}

In the clerks office of Prince William County December 13th 1883

This deed from Lawrence Cole & wife to William J. Ashby was received with certificate annexed and admitted to record.

Teste. L. A. Davis clerk

Deed: Ashby to Linton (1912)

Deed:  W. J. Ashby and Elizabeth Ashby to R. C. Linton

PWCo Deed Book 63, pg. 143

THIS DEED made this 30 day of December, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and twelve, between W. J. Ashby and Elizabeth Ashby, his wife, parties of the first part, and R. C. Linton, party of the second part:

WITNESSETH: That the said parties of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS, to them cash in hand paid by the said party of the second part, before the signing, sealing and delivering of these presents, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, do grant unto the said party of the second part, with covenants of GENERAL WARRANTY, all of that certain tract or parcel of land, lying and being situate near Independent Hill, in Coles Magisterial District, Prince William County, Virginia on the Warrenton-Dumfries Road, containing about FORTY ACRES, be the same more or less, it being the remainder of that certain tract of land,c ontaining 62 acres, roods and 11 poles, which was conveyed to Lawrence Cole by deed from Lucien A. Davis, clerk of the county court of Prince William County, bearing date the 13th day of April, 1876, and recorded in the land records of said county Deed Book 30, pg. 438 and by the said Lawrence Cole conveyed to the said William J. Ashby by deed, in which the wife of the said Lawrence Cole united, bearing the date 8th day of December 1883 and recorded in the said office in Deed Book No. 34 P. 418, less, however a tract of land heretofore conveyed by the said parties of the first part to the said party of the second party, and also less another part and parcel of the said land heretofore conveyed by the said parties of the first part to William Retzer, leaving a tract estimated at FORTY ACRES, which is hereby conveyed, to which said several deeds reference is here made for a more detailed description of the said land hereby conveyed, which adjoins the lands of the late Frank Gallahan, Ed. Keys et als., it being expressly covenanted, however, that the land herein conveyed, is sold by the lump and not by the acre, and that there is to be no other compensation or reduction, should the said tract exceed or fall short of forty acres.

In testimony whereof, the said parties do hereto affix their signatures and seals the day and year first above written.

W. J. Ashby (SEAL)

Elizabeth Ashby (SEAL)

STATE OF VIRGINIA, County of Prince William, to-wit:

I, Robt. A. Hutchison, a commissioner in chancery for the circuit court of Prince William, do certify that William J. Ashby and Elizabeth Ashby, whose names are signed to the writing annexed, bearing date the 30th day of December 1912, have acknowledged the same before me in my county aforesaid.

Given under my hand this the 30th day of December, 1912.

Robt. A. Hutchison, Com'r in Chy.

In the Clerk's Office of the Circuit Court for Prince William County, January 1, 1913 at 3 O'clock, P.M. THIS DEED from W. J. Ashby and Elizabeth Ashby to R. C. Linton was received with certificate of acknowledgement of the grantors annexed, and admitted to record.

Teste: J. E. Herrell .  Clerk

[Margin Note:  "Mailed to R. C. Linton March 4, 1913.  J. E. H."]

Sunday's Obituary William Abel

Baltimore American (Baltimore, MD)
9 August 1905

WILLIAM ABELL
[Special to the American]

La Plata, Md., August 8 -- William Abell, of Charles county, died on Saturday, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. He had been in failing health for some time.  Mr. Abell was originally from Prince William county, Va. He served as a private soldier in the Confederate Army. At the close of the war he came to Charles county, where he had since resided. He married Miss Mary Speake, a sister of Capt. John A. Speake. He leaves six children, his wife having died about 11 years ago. The pallbearers were John W. Lyon, Henry Delozier, Alex Haislip, N. R. Simmons, James A. Franklin, Rufus Davis, John W. Jenkins and George M. Carpenter.

Society Saturday: Tournament (1860)

Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, VA)
28 September 1860

A TOURNAMENT was held last Tuesday in the neighboring county of Prince William at the store of Wm. H. Keys. A large number were present. The successful knights were Jas. S. Cole, who named Miss Julia Tansil Queen of Love and Beauty; S. F. Davis, who named Miss Jennie Carney, First Maid of Honor; Jas. V. Nash, who named (per Montgomery Tansil) Miss Bettie Cockerell, Second Maid; and Maj. Jas. R. Purcell who named Miss Mollie Pridmore, Third Maid. The charge to the Knights was delivered by James E. Williams.

In connection with the tournament a cotillion party was given which passed off very creditably and was continued the next day (Wednesday). Much satisfaction was expressed at the manner in which the host (Mr. Wm. H. Keys) discharged his arduous duties. The occasion was one long to be remembered by all who took part in it.

Friend of Friends Friday: Jabez Fryer Inventory

Jabez Fryer's Inventory 
Prince William Co. Will Book I
Pg. 57

In Pursuance of an order of Prince William County Court bearing date the 3d day of December 1804 we whose names are hereunto annexed after being first sworn have inventoried and apprais'd the Estate of Jabez Fryer as shewn us by Tapley Fryar admr this 17--- of January 1805

   One Negro Man nam'd Lewis ................ $300


Francis Montgomery
David Lee
William Wheeler


At a Court held for Prince Wm. County July 1st 1805.

This Inventory & appraisement of the Estate of Jabez Fryar dec'd was returned to the Court and ordered to be recorded.

Teste.
J. Williams  Cl. Cur.